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Festival of Ciulim and Czulent in Lelów

In August, the quiet Lelów, a former royal town in the Częstochowa county, turns for three days into a capital of two dishes baked all night long. The Festival of Ciulim and Czulent is a festival of Polish and Jewish culture, recalling the times when both communities lived side by side in the town. The last edition took place on 16–18 August 2024 at the stadium on Sportowa Street.

Ciulim meets czulent

Ciulim is a baked dish of potatoes, pork ribs and bacon, seasoned the farm way and today most often prepared in a cauldron over the fire. Czulent belongs to Jewish cuisine: made of beans, groats, onions and goose fat, put in before the Sabbath so that it would finish cooking without any work on the holy day. Both dishes share one ritual — long hours of baking, once in a bread oven. The winners of the cooking contest are decided by tasters, and there is also the local plum spirit of 70% strength to try.

Three days of programme

On and around the stadium operate stalls with handicrafts and food, carousels await children, and bands perform on the stage, including klezmer ensembles. The programme includes Jewish dance workshops and film screenings, and the highlight remains the tasting of dishes prepared in the cauldrons. The dates of the next edition are announced by the organiser before the summer holidays.

In practice

The drive from Częstochowa and from Katowice takes about an hour by car, with temporary car parks designated for the festival on site. Entry to the festival grounds is open, while tastings and the contest require buying portions and tokens. If you miss the August date, you can eat czulent all year round at a restaurant by the market square in Lelów.